2018 Burgermeister Ben Harrison, left, and 2017 Burgermeister John Dean, right toasted with their Dunkel Pops at Wednesday night’s Oktoberfest opening ceremony. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – In time for Oktoberfest, Frios Gourmet Pops has teamed up with Goat Island Brewing to reveal a new pop flavor that’s exclusive to this year’s festival. The flavor has been officially named “Dunkel Pop,” and is named for, and flavored like, Goat Island’s national award-winning beer, Duck River Dunkel, the official beer of Oktoberfest 2018. The pop, which debuted at Wednesday night’s opening ceremony, is alcohol-free.
Frios co-owner, Kristy Keiffer, shared, “Goat Island Brewing graciously allowed us to do this flavor. We love partnering with Goat Island Brewing to be able to bring the Dunkel Pop to Oktoberfest; we plan to do this seasonally so each year it’ll only be available during the Oktoberfest festival.”
In a surprise presentation Wednesday night, 2017 Burgermeister John Dean and 2018 Burgermeister Ben Harrison toasted with their Dunkel Pops. Master of Ceremonies Johann Cullmann exclaimed that a new tradition was born as the toast was made.
Goat Island gained national attention in September with the Duck River Dunkel’s second-place silver medal finish in the “Munich-Style Dunkel or European-Style Dark Lager” category at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado, the largest beer competition in the United States. More than 800 breweries competed at the Great American Beer Festival, with 53 entered specifically in the Munich Dunkel category. Goat Island’s silver was the only medal awarded to any Alabama brewery, the first silver in three years, and one of only three awarded to any Alabama brewery in the last 10 years.
The Dunkel Pop does not have any alcohol but still has the flavor of Duck River Dunkel. So, popsicle lovers who are not yet 21 can perhaps get a taste of dark lager to see what it’s like. Attendees of Oktoberfest’s opening night Wednesday got to taste the beer and the pop; some felt the two tasted completely different. The Frios stand will be on-site at Oktoberfest all this week, so be sure to go by and get a taste yourself!
Oktoberfest takes place through Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018 and admission is free. Check www.cullmanoktoberfest.com/2018-schedule.html for specific events and times.
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